Nevada County picayune., 1887-05-18
AGRICULTURAL.
"Chopping Cotton.

cotton farm during the month of May is cotton chopping. Among the many machines that have been invented to do this work none has vet been very favorably received or generally adopted by farmers. The operation is one-like cotton picking seems to demand an ev' exchanging notion and the eXer- else of an ever-actlng judgment which cannot be materialized into q machine. Such a machine, is probably within the possibilities of human invention. The cotton harvester is an undisputed neces- sity: but it is not so clear that a machine for chopping, or merely "blockiug out" cOtton-reducing the continuous row Of plants to bunches-is exactly what is need ed. Why SOW the seed so as se- cure a continuous row of plants, and then at the first operation proceed to destroy the continuity On poor unfertilized land, which requires that the plants should stand very close in order to talks maximum. crop, srch d continu- ous row is perhaps necessary; but 1t seems an unnecessary waste of seed and labor on land which will bear the stalks IS inches to two or three feet apart. Why not plant the seed on such land in hills or steps-already chopped! The writer planted his entire crop two successive years m hills 3x2 l-2 feet with the most satisfactory re. suits. But it is too late now to discuss the policy of hill or step- planting. The crop is nearly all planted and much of it vii soon be ready for the first operation.
 If the soil has been impacied from the effects of one or more rains after planting, it is of the first importance to break the crust and let in the light air. Tho COIL dition of the land in this respect, and the necessity of the young crop, will determine whether it will be better to chop before or after blowing. When the ground is in good, mellow condition, and comparatively free from grass, we have often found it better to put the hoes to work in advance Oi blowing and as soon as the seed leaf of the plant is fully devel. Oped. If this plan is adopted the work of chopping out should and may be readily done, the aim be. tug to get over the crop in week or ten days or less. It does not pay to consume the time that would be required to thin out to a given number of plants, or to leave each bunch in d perfect condition. It the crop has been we'll and smoothly planted and the ground is mellow and free from obsiruc- tiOns such as clods and stones, a hand should go in kind of half walk, rarely giving more than a stroke for each bunch of plants left. We have seen expert hoe hands go oyer in this way two acres per day, and even more. Remember, that this of plan-hoe- ing, or "blocking out" ahead of blows, requires and assumes that cotton should be plowed within few days. Generally the cotton crop needs to be ''gone over" with blows or hoes as rapidly as it was planted. At such juncture It Is more important to get over quickly than to do the work (hoe. work perfectly. The aim should be to make every stroke of the hoe do it's utmost, rarely striking 'twice in the same place." thus getting over the crop rapidly and quickly--on the same principle
 that would govern rescniny par. ty m relieving the hunger and thirst of a tamishing ships crew or a starving garrison. The blows should follow this hoeing as quick ly as possible and go as rapidly. The second hoeing should com mence in a few days after the in. terveniug blowing, and should be done with more care, the plants now being pnt to a tinal stand, which can be done with compara- tive safety. if this hoeing, and the consequent plowings be skill. fully done there will be little, if any, more need of the hoes. More depends on the age and